Why Vietnam is Better than the Internet for Families

There’s no denying it, far away is exciting. Vietnam holds all the mystery and anticipation of an exotic adventure to the other side of the world – it’s catnip for kids. But for mums and dads with one eye on the practicalities, it’s a safe, clean, sensible destination too. People here are friendly, children are a valued part of Vietnamese culture so they will feel involved and engaged in the experience, and hotels are of a good standard. It frees you up to enjoy the destination too.

Boredom is borderline impossible, for kids and big kids alike. If the new customs, unusual architecture and weird foods aren’t sufficient, the activities are enough to keep even the most fickle young adventurer amused: cyclo city tours, kayaking, walking, swimming and snorkelling. There won’t even be time to miss home.

Read more: A beginner’s guide to family holidays

“Our 12 year old son had a great time and I am sure there is no way we could have possibly covered the variety of sights and activities independently in two weeks.” - Richard Kelly, travelled April 2015

Vietnam is perfect for what our friends the Meeks call an ‘Edventure’ – educational adventure, full of informal learning on the way. As well as the sobering history of the Cu Chi tunnels, there’s the chance to learn geology at the Marble Mountain caves, and a completely different lifestyle to discover with a Mekong Delta homestay.

“It’s Edventure, and I fully recommend it.” – The Meeks
Read more about the meeks

But more than anything, this South East Asian country is a haven for families looking for “more green time, less screen time.” It’s a paradise for families looking to make a connection without WiFi. Nobody is reaching for Angry Birds when instead there’s the clickety-clack excitement of a great railway escape, slumbering on an overnight sleeper train from north to south. They’ll be making more than Minecraft masterpieces, with a hands-on cookery class in Hoi An. And of course there’s plenty of time for grownups to embrace their inner Peter Pan with make-believe pirates on a traditional junk boat at Halong Bay. We guarantee you won’t want to be checking your emails either.